-Animal has large gashes across its back and has started to let off a pungent smell -East Lindsey District Council will cover the 30-tonne carcass with sand until they work out how to dispose of it

By Jill Reilly

Main attraction: Crowds of people gathered to see the 35ft (10.7m) whale today, which was first spotted near the bottom of Skegness Pier yesterday

A massive sperm whale carcass is causing a stink after washing up on a Lincolnshire beach.

Crowds of interested people gathered to see the 35ft (10.7m) whale today, which was first spotted near the bottom of Skegness Pier yesterday.

But they were repelled by the repugnant smell of the animal, which has large gashes across its back and may have been dead for several days.

Hold your nose: Although it has attracted hundreds of interested spectators, the animal, which has large gashes across its back and may have been dead for several days, has started to let off a pungent smell

Big decision: East Lindsey District Council said it will cover the 30-tonne carcass with sand until they work out how to dispose of it

East Lindsey District Council said it will cover the 30-tonne carcass with sand until they work out how to dispose of it.

Emma Burgess, from the council, said: 'Obviously as it is decomposing, the smell is getting worse.

'So we have covered it with sand until we can remove it from the beach, which should be early next week.'

Experts believe the whale collided with a boat and could have been dead for several days before finally washing ashore.

Naturalist Tony Burgess, who visited Skegness to witness the spectacle, said: "If they get into shallow waters the weight of their bodies on their lungs makes it difficult for them to breathe.

'It's always so sad when you see a great creature like that dead.'Whales were last spotted on Skegness Beach in 2006, when two bottled nosed whales washed ashore.

Male sperm whales are abundant in nearly all of the earth's oceans and undertake vast migratory journeys.

But they prefer deep waters to hunt their predominate prey - the deep sea squid.

Julie Hamilton, who was visiting Butlins from Leicester, said: "We came down to have a look because it's a once in a lifetime experience to see such a rare thing but it's really sad.

'I love animals and it's always awful when you see any wildlife destroyed.'

Skegness resident Ivan Frost said: 'It's unbelievable - I've never seen anything so large washed up on the beach before.'

Accidental death: Experts believe the whale collided with a boat and could have been dead for several days before finally washing ashore

Rare sight: Whales were last spotted on Skegness Beach in 2006, when two bottled nosed whales washed ashore